Current-motor



w. J. ANILEY CURRENT MOTOR.

, APPLICATION FILED FEB=12, 1920- 1,374,801 Patented Apr. 12,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

affozmu W. J. ANTLEY;

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, I2, 1920.

. 374 I Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- a Q i 12 4 Z4/ gwum 1 fat WILLIAil' J'QAIITLEY, orYONGESiIS IJjINQgSOUTH cAitoLma.

Specification of Letters P ate-nt.

"cURnEN'r-Mo'rom tented Aprg'i z, 1921.

Application filed February lfl, .fll920 lSerial lie 353,252. e

adapted for arrangement in the path of flow of water in a river, stream,brook or the like, for the purpose of utilizing the motion and power dueto the flow of the water as a means of generating power for use indriving machinery or for storage or for lighting purposes and the like.and sub ect to control to adapt the rapidity of the generation of powerto suit the rapidity of consumption or to entirely check the same whennot required, and with these objects in view the invention consists in aconstruction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a planview.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the'line 44 ofFig. 2.

The device consists essentially of a barge 10 provided beneath theplatform 11 with a chute or runway 12 of which the bottom is preferablyinclined upward from the inlet end 13 to the outlet end at 14 and isfitted at different elevations with trap doors 15, 16 and 17 designed'to normally fit in and close outlet openings in the bottom of the chuteor to be raised to an upright or substantially vertical position asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to form baffles.

When in their normal positions incontinuation of the bottom of the chuteand closing the openings to which they are fitted, these trap doorsserve to direct the flow of water moving in the direction indicated bythe arrow in F ig. 1 into contact with the paddles of a water wheel 18of which the shaft 19is mounted in suitable hearings on the barge and isconnected by intermeshing gears 20 and 21 with a pulley 22 from whichextends a belt 23 to a similar pulley 24 on a counter-shaft 25. Withthis countershaft through-the agency of a belt 26 pulleys I and 28 orequivalent means of gearing, 1s connecteda dynamo29 or other powergenerator from which energy may be conducted toa point of storage or useas.

ma be required.

bviously when the doors or valves whichare located near the inlet end ofthe chute are in their normal or closed positions, the full force of thecurrent, or so much thereof as may be received by the chute is appliedto the water wheel, whereas by opening said trap doors or valves theflow through the chute is prevented and water entering the same ispermitted to flow (111i) through the openings to which the valves arefitted. When it is desired, however, to modify or reduce the effect uponthe water wheel without entirely checking its movement the trap door orvalve 15 at the inlet end of the chute may be raised partly orcompletely by means of an operating'rod 30 having a ratchet 31 forengagement with a keeper 32. When the valve is raised to a verticalposition as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1- its upper edge is still2 .ment of the water wheel, and this movement may be still furtherimpeded without being entirely stopped by opening the second trap dooror valve 16 by means of its operating rod corresponding withthat withwhich the valve 15 is provided, whereas the opening of the third trapdoor or valve as the parts are constructed and proportioned in thedrawing will serve ,to interrupt-the flow through the chute and permitthe water wheel to remain at rest when its operation is not necessary.In other words the cornvertible valves and bafiles which are mounted inthe chute are of graduated sizeto the end that the arrangement of one orthe other thereof in the bafiling position will serve to determine therapidity of 'movement of the water through the chute and hencethevelocity of the water wheel and of the dynamo or other power generatingunit.

' What is claimed is: p I

1. A current motor having a'chute pro vided with an upwardly andforwardlyinclined bottom wall, and a water wheel ar tom with a pluralityof outlet openings and convertible valves and bafiies fitted to saidopenings and'ad'apted for arrangement 1n obstructing relation to theflow of water:

' chute, said chute being provided in its botthrough the chute.

2. A current motor having a chute pro vided with an upwardly andforwardly in clined bottom wall, and a water wheel arranged foroperation by flow through the chute, said chute being provided in itsbottom with a series of outlet openings and graduated convertible valvesand baflles fitted to said openings and adapted for arrangement inflow-obstructing relation with the bottom of the chute.

3. A current motor having a chute pro vided with an upwardly andforwardly inclined bottom wall, and a water wheel arranged for operationby flow through the tom with a series of outlet openings, Valveshingedly mounted to close said openings and adapted for arrangement infiow-obstructing relation with the interior of the chute, operating rodsconnected with said valves and means for locking said rods to secure thesaid valves in adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

7 WILLIAM J. ANTLEY.

